A Modified Method for Obtaining Tick Oral Secretion

Abstract

This paper describes a technique modified from one previously used for Dermacentor andersoni, to obtain salivary secretions of Boophilus microplus by the application of capillary tubes of critical diameter to mouthparts. Hypodermic injections of pilocarpine in saline were found to cause sixfold increase in secretion over that obtainable from tactile stimulus alone, while the constituents of the secretion were unchanged except for pilocarpine being present. It was not possible to determine whether secretions obtained by these techniques represent the entire range of salivary secretions.[long dash]Author.